I spotted two White-tailed Bucks in velvet on a hillside in the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge. The field was filled with yellow wildflowers. Large sunlit rocks broke up the green landscape.
Both bucks stood still just long enough for me to get a few photos. Then they slipped over the hill and disappeared. Their velvet-covered antlers caught the morning light perfectly.
White-tailed Bucks in Velvet Among Wildflowers
Male White-tailed Deer grow new antlers every year. In spring, these antlers are covered in velvet, which helps nourish the fast-growing bone.
Photographing bucks in velvet is always a quiet reward. Seeing two out in the open like this, surrounded by flowers, felt special.
They were alert, ears high, eyes fixed. That awareness makes them tough to approach and even harder to photograph. I’ve seen many White-tailed Deer in the refuge, but this moment stood out.
If you’d like to see more Whitetail Bucks growing new antlers, take a look at my post on White-tailed Bucks at Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge.
Waiting Pays Off
I came across these two bucks while driving through the refuge. I was able to pull into a nearby parking area and get into position to photograph them.
Sometimes I drive for miles and sit for hours without taking a single photo. But then I get lucky. Two bucks, velvet antlers shining, framed by wildflowers and red rock.
That’s why I keep going back.
Wildlife Photography Tip
When photographing wildlife from your vehicle, use it as a blind. Turn off the engine to reduce vibration. Rest your lens on a bean bag or window mount for stability. This approach helped me capture these White-tailed Bucks in velvet without disturbing them.
Camera Settings
- Camera: Canon EOS R5 Mark II
- Lens: RF 100-500mm F4.5-7.1 L IS USM
- Aperture: ƒ/8
- Focal Length: 500.0 mm
- Shutter Speed: 1/800
- ISO: 2000
- Exposure Mode: Manual
- Exposure Compensation: +2/3